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Class notes: Winter 2022

1970s

Keith Hopper (1975, 1983, 1984) respiratory therapy/curriculum development
Hopper developed the curriculum for the program redesign, advancing respiratory care at Boise State. Now a professor emeritus at Southern Polytechnic University, he earned his doctorate from Georgia State University in instructional design technology. Hopper recently performed the Heimlich maneuver at a Florida diner when a cook choked. Enlisting a nearby server — who turned out to be a nursing student — the pair made quick work of the emergency to the relief of patrons. The cook was okay and bought lunch.

Ron Dorn (1974) accountancy
Dorn recently finished his 39th year working in higher education. He is chief financial officer at the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana.

1980s

Steve Harris (1980) business administration
Harris has helped several families suffering from a comorbid diagnosis, championing life-changing work as a family therapist. This work includes facilitating a year in residential care followed by decades of guiding patients to perfect their skills in recovery rehabilitation. The therapy has proven successful for more than 25 years.

Tina Freeman (1984, 2012, 2014) health sciences
A three-time Boise State alum, Freeman is the graduate programs coordinator for Boise State’s School of Allied Health Sciences. Freeman holds degrees in applied technology, health promotions and gerontological studies.

Jonilyn Barrett (1989) nursing
As an RN, Barrett worked in hospice and rehabilitation for long-term care patients during her 23-year career. She and husband Jody Tuft raised five children. Barrett’s daughter and two granddaughters followed her career path and joined the nursing profession.

1990s

Rikki Waller (1997) radiologic sciences
Waller recently became the chairperson- elect of the Conference on Radiation Control Program Directors.

John McGloon (1999) communication
McGloon recently released his first book, “Pastures and Raptures Poems and Stuff.” McGloon also has released three music singles, “Statures,” “Mountain Rain” and “Gray Rain.”

2000s

Todd Schwarz (2002) educational technology
Earlier this year, Schwarz became provost at the College of Southern Idaho. Previously, he was state administrator for the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education and executive vice president at the College of Idaho. Schwarz holds a doctorate in education. He and his wife Shaun live in Twin Falls and Hailey.

Matt Edwards (2005) English
Edwards recently released his second book, “Icarus Never Flew ‘Round Here,” from Atmosphere Press. His first novel, “Ways and Truths and Lives,” was published in 2021. His new book explores American mythology and is a critique of peoples’ interactions with the Judeo- Christian God. Set in the Oregon high desert, the lonely, desolate scenery along Highway 20 provides the backdrop for a rancher trying to understand his life’s purpose.

2010s

Michael Langer (2010) music
Langer, who earned his master’s in piano performance at Boise State, recently completed a Doctor in Musical Arts and a second master’s in music theory pedagogy at North Dakota State University. He lives in Bismarck, North Dakota and teaches piano and music theory at the University of Mary.

Jim Duran (2013) mathematics and history
Duran is the director of the Television News Archives and curator of Born- Digital Collections at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He is working on a $5 million project to renovate and expand Vanderbilt’s media resources to establish the McGee Applied Research Center for Narrative Studies. The new center will promote media literacy by providing resources to evaluate the objectivity of news coverage, social media, and blogs and other narratives.

Kylee Avery (2017) political science
A U.S. government analyst, Avery is working to expand recruiting for U.S. intelligence agencies at western universities, including Boise State. Avery said that opportunities exist for students from a range of majors in the CIA, National Security Agency and other agencies. She welcomes inquiries from interested students: kylee.a.avery@ gmail.com.

Bryan McBee (2018) English writing
McBee published two novels since graduating, “Vector Zero” in 2021 and “Afterworld” in 2022.

Matthew Kelley (2015) linguistics and Spanish
Kelley graduated in June with his doctorate in linguistics from the University of Alberta. He holds a Master of Science in linguistics from the same institution. Kelley is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Washington in the Department of Linguistics.

Craig Lane (2016) exercise science
Lane recently began a new career as lead sport scientist with the Minnesota United Football Club. The club hosted a league all-star game this year for which Lane was able to help train some of the best soccer players in North America.

2020s

Justin Medeiros (2021) kinesiology
Medeiros placed third in the 2020 International CrossFit Games and earned the title of “Fittest Man on Earth” in the 2021 games. He held on to his title at the 2022 games, earning a prize purse of $310,000. Medeiros trained and began competing at the CrossFit Games while finishing his degree at Boise State.

Maddy Hiatt (2021) athletic training
After earning her master’s in 2021, Hiatt became an athletic trainer with the University of Alabama Sports Medicine team.

Levi King (2021) accountancy
King earned his Master of Accounting degree from the University of Southern California, Leventhal School of Accounting. He works for Deloitte in Washington, D.C.